Aechmea plant named `Grey Ghost`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Aechmea fasciata is provided which forms a large abundantly branched pink-bracted inflorescence with contrasting blue flowers. The leaves are wide and spineless and prominently display silver-white coloration (as illustrated). The new variety can be readily distinguished from the `DeLeon` variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,832) by the greater degree of branching of the inflorescence, a greater width of the leaves, and the presence of more silver-white coloration on the leaves.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aechmea plants are known to comprise a genus of over 168 species ofevergreen perennials suitable for cultivation in the home or underglass. Aechmea may be terrestrial or epiphytic. For the most part theplants of the species vary in diameter from 12 to 18 inches to 3 or 4feet and have rosettes of spiny edged leaves.

The flowers and bracts of Aechmea frequently have brilliant colors andmay last up to several months. The range of colors for Aechmea isgenerally from yellow through orange but may also include pink, orange,red and red-purple. Tubular, three-petalled flowers may also appear butare usually short lived.

Aechmea may be advantageously grown as pot plants for greenhouse or homeuse. Typically the plants are shaded from direct sunlight and thecentral vase-like part of the leaf rosette is normally filled withwater.

Aechmea is native to tropical America. Leaves of the Aechmea are usuallyformed as basal rosettes which are stiff and entire and in severalvertical ranks. Aechmea have terminal spikes or panicles which are oftenbracted with the petals united in a tube that is longer than the calyx.

The new variety of Aechmea fasciata of the present invention was createdduring August 1990, at Miami, Fla. by artificial pollination wherein twoparents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope thatthey would contribute the desired characteristics.

The female parent (i.e., seed parent) was an unnamed Aechmea fasciataclone designated No. 79 (non-patented in the United States), and themale parent (i.e., pollen parent) was an unnamed Aechmea fasciata clonedesignated No. 87 (non-patented in the United States).

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and smallplants were obtained which were physically and biologically differentfrom each other. Selective study during August 1992 resulted in theidentification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new variety of the present invention possesses thefollowing combination of characteristics:

(a) forms a large pink-bracted inflorescence that is abundantlybranched, and

(b) forms wide spineless leaves that heavily display a silver-whitecoloration.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom the Aechmea fasciata `DeLeon` variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,832).More specifically, the new variety forms an inflorescence that is moreabundantly branched, and forms leaves that generally are wider and bearmore silver-white coloration.

The new variety has been carefully evaluated and has been found toundergo asexual propagation at Goulds, Fla. beginning in October, 1992.More specifically, asexual propagation by the cutting of off-shootsgrowing from the base of the plant has shown that the characteristics ofthe new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible from onegeneration to another.

The new variety of the present invention has been named the `Grey Ghost`variety.

The new `Grey Ghost` variety has not been observed and tested under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, the phenotypemay vary with variations in environmental conditions, such astemperature, light intensity, day length, humidity, etc., without anychange in the genotype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photographs show as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this character, atypical specimen of the plant and the foliage of the new variety. Theplant was grown in a greenhouse at Goulds, Fla., while using growingconditions that are standard for the industry.

FIG. 1 illustrates the original plant of the new variety after 18 monthsof growth when finished in a 15 cm pot. The abundant branchingpropensity of the new variety is shown.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of the inflorescence and leaves of thenew variety. The attractive pink brachts are shown.

FIG. 3 illustrates for comparative purposes the upper leaf surface ofthe new variety on the right, and the upper leaf surface of the `DeLeon`variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,832) on the left. It will be noted thatthe upper leaves of the new variety tend to be wider and to bear a morepronounced silver-white coloration that can be compared to the presenceof more silver-white bands, or bars that extend across the leaves of the`DeLeon` variety.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The RoyalHorticultural Society (R.H.S.Colour Chart). The description is basedupon the observation of the plant of FIG. 1 when grown at Goulds, Fla.under greenhouse conditions that are standard for the industry.

Classification: Aechmea fasciata, cv. `Grey Ghost`.

Plant:

Growth habit.--Basal rosettes of strap-like leaves arranged around acentral axis.

Height.--Approximately 50 cm. including inflorescence.

Diameter.--Approximately 70 to 90 cm.

Foliage:

Leaf size.--The basal leaves are approximately 35 to 45 cm. in length,and approximately 10 to 12 cm. in width.

Leaf shape.--The leaf blade is ligulate with a broadly rounded apiculateapex, slightly channeled, and the margins are entire and spineless.

Leaf sheath.--Broadly elliptic, approximately 8 to 12 cm. in length, andapproximately 6 to 12 cm. in width.

Leaf texture.--The leaf blade is thick, coriaceous, and with very densesilver-white lepidote concentrated in bands and spots. Markings areparticularly dense on the abaxial surface of the leaf where the whitetrichome covering obscures the leaf blade.

Leaf color.--The adaxial and abaxial surfaces are near Green Group 137B,but tend to be somewhat darker and greener.

Number of leaves.--The plant commonly produces approximately 16 leavesbefore producing an inflorescence.

Roots.--Wiry with fine laterals, and yellow-green changing to brown incoloration.

Bracts:

Primary bracts.--The primary bracts number approximately 20, are thinand papery, possess a surface that is densely appressed lepidote,possess a margin that is entire and spineless, and are located at thebase of each branch spike. The length is approximately 6 to 12 cm. andthe width is approximately 1.5 to 2 cm., and the shape is lanceolate ornarrowly triangular with an acute tip. The adaxial and abaxial surfacesare near Red Group 55C in coloration.

Floral bracts.--The floral bracts underlying the flowers are coraceous,possess a surface that is pale appressed lepidote, possess a margin thatis entire and spineless, commonly number approximately 176 and areapproximately 2.5 to 3.5 cm. in length and approximately 1.2 to 1.5 cm.in width, and possess a triangular shape with an acute to attenuate tip.The adaxial and abaxial surfaces are near Red Group 54C in coloration.

Scape bracts.--The scape bracts are thin and papery, possess a surfacethat is densely appressed lepidote, possess a margin that is entire andspineless, encircle the scape, number approximately 7, are approximately8 to 10 cm. in length and approximately 2 cm. in width, and possess ashape that is lanceolate with an acute to acuminate tip. The adaxial andabaxial surfaces are near Red Group 55D in coloration.

Scape.--The surface is densely covered with white floccose trichomes,the height is approximately 32 cm., the diameter is approximately 1.4cm., and the color is near Red Group 53C.

Branch spikes.--The branches are sessile and are positioned at about 45°with respect to the main axis. The branches commonly extend up toapproximately 5.5 cm. in length, and approximately 16 branch spikescommonly are present. Approximately 6 to 11 buds/flowers commonly arepresent on each branch spike.

Shape of inflorescence.--Densely digitate, pyramidal in configuration,commonly approximately 12 cm. in height, and commonly approximately 21cm. in width.

Flowers:

Calyx.--Three sepals are present, approximately 10 to 12 mm. in length,and near Red Group 55D in coloration.

Corolla.--Tubular, three ligulate petals are present, approximately 26to 28 mm. in length, and Blue Group 102D fading to Red-Purple Group 71Dto black in coloration.

Time of blooming.--The flowering of mature plants commonly beginsapproximately 14 weeks after induction during the warm summer months,and approximately 16 to 17 weeks after induction during the cool wintermonths.

Duration of inflorescence.--The inflorescence commonly will hold itscolor approximately 3 to 4 months during the warm summer months, andapproximately 4 to 6 months during the cool winter months.

Floral organs:

Ovary. --Inferior, possesses three locules, approximately 6 to 7 mm. inlength, and white in coloration.

Anthers.--Approximately 5 mm. in length, and white in color.

Seed characteristics: Typical of the Aechmea fasciata species.

I Claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Aechmea fasciata plantcharacterized by the following combination of characteristics:(a) formsa large pink-bracted inflorescence that is abundantly branched, and (b)forms wide spineless leaves that heavily display a silver-whitecoloration;substantially as herein illustrated and described.